12 Steps to Take After a UK Road Traffic Accident

Sian Victoria © - Motorbike and car on British town road

UK Guide: What to Do After a Car Crash

Driving around the UK creates a feeling of freedom, no matter if you are enjoying an adventure along the British country roads or simply making your way around the daily commute through its many cities and towns.

Yet, no matter how careful you may be as a driver, there always is the risk of becoming part of a vehicle collision. And while a collision is a stressful experience, knowing what needs to be done makes all the difference in staying calm.

So, here are twelve things that need to be done following a vehicle collision.

1. Stop Immediately And Secure The Area

Once the crash takes place, you must make sure that you stop your vehicle without fail. It is a punishable offence under British traffic laws to move on after a crash, no matter how small the crash may be.

Pull over safely to one side of the road, turn the engine off, and switch the hazard lights of your car on. Switching the hazard lights ensures that oncoming vehicles get a warning about the obstruction. At night, make sure that you use a high visibility jacket or a warning triangle if you have one in the trunk of your vehicle.

2. Check For Personal Injuries And Call Emergency Services

The next thing to do is to take some time and check yourself and your passengers for any injuries sustained in the incident. It is a fact that adrenaline rushes quickly in cases of stressful situations, so physical pain may not be felt right after the accident has happened.

If there are any injuries sustained by any person involved in the accident, then you should call 999 or 112 immediately and ask for an ambulance. The police should also be contacted immediately if the road is blocked by the accident, if there are any drunken drivers involved, or if the accident poses a danger to other motorists passing through.

3. Keep Calm And Avoid Admitting Fault

It is perfectly normal to be shocked, angry, or upset following a collision between two vehicles, but it is important for your own safety that you keep a cool head and remain courteous throughout.

It is particularly important for your future safety to refrain from apologising for the accident or taking any kind of blame for what happened when you are at the scene of the accident. Even an innocent comment such as "I'm sorry; I didn't see you," may be misconstrued as an admission of fault by the insurance companies.

4. Exchange Complete Details With All Parties

It is mandatory under UK law that in case of any road traffic accident, the individuals driving should provide particular information about themselves and their vehicles if there is any valid reason to demand it.

Always keep paper and pen in your car or utilise the notes app on your photo to record the below-mentioned crucial information:

• Name, telephone number, and residence address of all the drivers.
• Registration number of the cars along with the make, model, and colour.
• Names of the insurance company along with policy information of each individual.
• Contact information of all the passengers and witnesses present near the scene of the accident.
• Information of the registered owner of the car if they are not the driver.

5. Capture Thorough Photographic Evidence

Your smartphone is one of the best weapons you can use after an accident. Do not move any cars from their positions until you have taken detailed photos and videos of everything involved.

Make sure you get photos of how exactly your cars are positioned, details of the damage on each car, road markings, skid marks, traffic lights, weather conditions, etc. Even debris on the road should be documented if present. Proper photography will help in avoiding any false claims made during insurance assessment.

6. Document Key Environmental And Location Details

While the accident is still fresh in your memory, make a note of the actual conditions under which the accident took place. Mention the actual date and time when the accident occurred along with information about the weather, visibility on the road, and traffic situation.

It is also important for you to know your exact geographical location, especially if you are stuck somewhere on an unknown rural road or an extensive highway stretch. You may need to mention particular street names, landmarks, or junction numbers.

In case you find yourself stuck somewhere without any visible signage, you can use location services like what3words to communicate your coordinates directly to recovery teams.

7. Handle Unattended Property Collisions Correctly

Damaging a parked car or breaking into a garden fence may occur unexpectedly. Even if you damage a parked car without someone around or damage personal property when the owner is not there, you are legally obliged to take action.

Note down your complete name, contact number, and car number on a sheet of paper, keeping it secured under the windshield wipers of the affected car. You are also required to take photos of both the vehicles and the damage done to them. It is necessary to inform the police within 24 hours.

Sian Victoria © - Cars parked along a road in British town

8. Report The Incident To The Police Within 24 Hours

Its not always necessary to have the presence of police officers when there is just a minor collision. But then, you have to notify the police about the accident within 24 hours if the parties have not been able to exchange personal information at the scene, there is any kind of injury, or the driver of the vehicle fled from the scene of the accident.

It is easy to report the accident through either the website or by dialling the non-emergency number 101. Not reporting a qualifying crash will land you with penalty points, fines, or even get yourself prosecuted.

9. Notify Your Car Insurance Company Promptly

Always notify your car insurance company about the accident at the earliest time possible and preferably within the first 24 hours following the accident. Regardless of whether you make a road traffic accident claim or not, all policies usually include a provision that you must notify your insurance company of any incidents involving your car.

Reporting to your car insurance company about the accident in truth and honesty helps keep you safe in case the other driver decides to sue you later on. Make sure that you have your policy number, witness statements, and photographs available during your phone call.

10. Secure And Back Up Dashcam Footage

It doesn’t take long before a driver realises how indispensable a dashcam can be when driving in the UK nowadays. In case you own one, make sure immediately that the necessary video is recorded and protected from being automatically overwritten.

A video recording with a timestamp provides impartial proof of what really happened and will make it much easier for the insurance company representatives and the police to determine who is responsible for the accident. Immediately save the video to your computer, cloud storage, or another device, and notify the insurance company and the police about this.

11. Seek Medical Attention For Delayed Symptoms

Even if you emerge unscathed from the accident, be on guard and watch out for any problems that may arise in the coming days. Driving accidents like whiplash, soft tissue injuries, and concussion usually reveal themselves in 24 to 48 hours after an accident because of the high level of adrenaline in your system.

Make sure to schedule an appointment with your general practitioner, go to a minor injuries clinic in your area, or contact the NHS 111 line if you experience stiffness, headaches, dizziness, and back pain. It is essential that you get yourself checked out in order to establish medical evidence linking the two.

12. Keep Organised Records Of All Costs

There is no denying that an administrative mess could ensue in case you are not organised following a road traffic accident. It is important to have a file or a place where all documents relating to your accident will be kept.

These documents should include any reference number on the police report issued to you, letters from your insurer, estimates by the garage, and medical notes. Moreover, it is also ideal to save receipts for any money spent out of pocket, including towing, transport, car hire, or prescriptions.

To conclude

I’ve been there, handling a road traffic accident is not a fun experience at all; however, if the proper procedures are followed, then the whole process will be much easier. Whe focusing on safety, staying calm, collecting sufficient evidence, and informing your insurance company, you ensure your safety from both legal and financial perspectives. So, remember these twelve tips next time you are driving.